Snap hook



Sept 25, 1923; I 1,685,201

. H. ST. PIERRE sNA-Hoox Filed Aug. 4, 19 27 f/mwfar Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNETED STATES HENRY s'r. PIERRE, OE WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR r sir. PIERRE CHAIN CORPORATION, OE

, SET'I'S. p

[PAT

1 sNAP HOOK.

.Appli cation filed. August:4, 192,7. Seria1 No.-210,65 6.

This invention relates toa fastening device 'for connecting the ,cnds of two chains together, of the snap-hooktypein which the turning of the locking lever over-will hold it in such a way that it will. not be likely to be come accidentally unhooked. and the pull of the chain will hold the locking lever in closed position. I 1 The principal Object of the invention is to provide a snap-hookof this kind with an improved and-simplified springfor holding the locking lever and with improved means-for holding the spring in position in a simple Inannerin the frame or casing of the hook. Other" objects and advantages of the 1n-' vention will appear hereinafter."

Reference is tobe had to the accompany ing drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a siderview o'f' 'a snap-hook for securing the ends of two chains together,

shown in locked position. 'Fig. 2 is a plan or edge view of the same; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the same but shown in unlocked or and has two parallel sides of the same outline and spaced apart. The pin 10 passes through the two sides and is pivotally con} nected with the end of the chain 11 as stated and is supported by the frame, The other endof the frame is shaped in the form of a hook 14, to the end of which at 15 is pivoted a locking lever 16. Thislever has a notch 17 at one end and notch '18 at the other while the frame 13 has a notch 19. Each of these notches constitutes a hook.

For the purpose of engaging'the convex surface 20 outside the notch 17 andholding the latch looked under spring'pressure 1 provide aspring consisting simply of a substan tially straight piece of wire 21 having a hump- 22 at its locking end. It is adapted to be pressed between two longitudinally extending ridges 23 formed in the'sides of the frame 13 to hold it permanently rigidlyin position set the sheet met.

1 10. YThe chainY12 'to be attached at the other therein. The wire: is offset so that it ridges .23.

sition by simply exerting pressure on theop positeside of the casing 13 at oppo'sit'e'points to project inwardl these ridges 23and firmly lot the casing around the wire spring to hold it in position. .Thebot In using the device, it is'first set in the position shown in Fig. 3 but, of-coursc, with a' chain attached thereto 'by' thee pin or'stud end is merely passed over the outer, end of the on its pivot toward the position shown in Fig. 1-.' This bringsjthe end of 'the link of the'chain 12 down intothenotch19 and the end having the notch 18 is broughtdown over the shank ofthe stud 10' as show-nin 1; When it'gets to a'point at which the end "of the'surface20 passes over the-hump'22 it is locked in that position.

Itwill be noticed that the convex endof the In manufacture, this spring is 81a in p WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTSQA CORPORATION O15 MASSACHU- willnot pull through thespace between the V tom ofithe frame or casing is cut outat 25 to let the springhave freedom of movement.

i looking lever and then this lever'is turned lever outside of the notch 18 projects beyond the end of the frame 13 at this point so'that it will be readily accessible for the application of pres-sureto open it. Pressure is ap-r plied best by the use of thethu-mb pressed upwardly upon it. It has to resist the resiliency of the spring 21 in allowing .the

other end of the locking lever to passover it- As shown in the dotted line positionin' Fig. 3 the hook 18 is provided so that it can be engaged over the end linkof a chain which does not reach far enough and then the.

hook employed tomove the chai'n back and forth and put it'forward so as to take up .I I

the slack. This is necessary often because a chain is not laid straight on the tire and will come'forward into position to reachthe hook if it is subjected to a strong pulland moved back and forth on thetire- This gives a good hold to enable the operator to accomplish that result. Then the hook is turned over about its pivot and the chain will come down into thenotch 17 and ,then .back'intoplace as shown in Fig. 1. 5

.The pivot pin 15 is placed a little forward] of the hump 22, thatis, ina vertical plane between-that hump and the opposite end of the V hook so that When the hook is closed, the

pressure of the spring is exerted on its.con-' vex eceentricsurface beyond its pivot 15,

thus offering a defiinite resistance against the openin dotted linesin; Fig. 1.- a

' This constitutes'a veryslmple construction, t particularly the spring 21v and the way is secured in position in the sheet metal Cass:

ing in the frames It has nothing that is likely; to get out oforder by the rough usage to which these articles are put and it serves every purpose which more expensive devices of :this kind are capable of accomplishing.

It will he noticed that when in the-locked what I do claim is:

position 21 any pull on the chain 12 tendsto swingethe locking lever 16 toward locking position and it therefore cannot be unlocked when there is any strain on the chain. Also the chain linki12 is held by the fixed hook l l instead of being held by thelever.

Although I have illustrated and described onlfi one form of the invention I am aware of the fact that modifications; can be made therein by any person skilledin the art without departing from the scope of the invention; asexpressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wishto 'be limited in theserespeets, but

1. As and article of manufactureia snaphook comprising a casing formed of av piece of sheet metal doubled on itself tojprovide two parallel Walls spaced apart, a locking leverlocated between'said walls, a wire spring having a bump for-engaging the end ofsaid leverin closed or looking position, preventing (r of the hook. This is shown in its accidental disengagement, the casing be- I ing bent in on opposite sides to clamp the shank of said spring in position between the sides of the casing the casing being cut out under the freetend of the springy to give it space for motion. 2. As an artic locking device comprising a casing formed of a piece of sheet metal doubled on itself to provide two-parallel'Walls spaced apart, a

u lever located betweensaid walls and having a hook pro ecting fromlts' pivot for receiving I one of the chains, a 'wire spring having a hump for engaging theend ofsaid hook when the lever is in closed or looking position,- prele of manufacture a chain.

venting its accidental disengagement,- the casing being' bentr in on opposite sides to clamp the shank'of said spring in 10631111011 having a'hu'mp for engaging the end of said hook when the lever is in closed or locking 'position, preventing its accidental disengagea chain i ment, the casing being hent iin on opposite sitionbetwe'en the sides of the easing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

' HENRY sT. PiER E;

sides'to clamp the shankof said spring in' pol 

